Electrical set-up mechanism



C. L. CALKINS ELECTRICAL SET-UP MECHANISM June 2l, 1938..

Filed March 16, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 j?? vena? June 2l, B938. 'c. L. cALKlNs ELECTRICAL SET-UP MECHANISM Filed March 16, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 2l, 1938. c. L. cALKlNs I yI-:LE-CTRIGAL SET-UP MECHANISM Filed Marcnle, 19:54 5 sheets-sheet 3 www.

June 21,1938.. 'CQLCALKWS' 2,12L5s4 ELECTRICAL SET-UP MECHANISM Filed Maron 1e, 19:54 5 sheets-sheet 4 Patented June 2l, 1938 UNITED STATES ELECTRICAL SET-Ul? MECHANISM Chauncey L. Calkins, Chicago, Ill., assignor yto Lothar A. Ederer, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 16, 1934, Serial No. 715,905

3 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for electrical communication and particularly to the construction of apparatus for arranging and setting up messages, comprising a plurality of characters,

5 which messages may thereafter be transmitted electrically.

One object of my invention is to provide a suitable, compact arrangement of dials, switches, and the like for the purpose of arranging and setting up messages. Another object of my invention is to provide a suitable assembly and housing of novel construction for such message set-up apparatus. Another object of my invention is to provide a simple arrangement of dials and observation windows which will permit a relatively large number` of such dials to be used in close proximity for the purpose of arranging and setting up messages of considerable length, also of providing a construction which will facilitate the designating of the characters used and the interpretation of code symbols.

For the purpose of illustration of my invention I have shown various views of an example of such apparatus referred to as a sub-station dispatcher, capable of handling two messages, each comprising any permutation and combination of twelve characters. It will be understood that, although a complete showing is made of this particular apparatus, a variety of other arrangements are possible incorporating the novel and advantageous features of the construction which will in nowise depart fro-m the spirit of the invention. Therefore, this showing is to be `con.- sidered in a sense as diagrammatic.

Figure 1 shows a front elevation o-f such a message set-up apparatus;

Figure 2 shows a side elevation of such an apparatus;

Figure 3 shows a sectional elevation along the line 3-3 of Figure l, through a message set-up apparatus;

Figure 4 shows a detail of the multiple electric contact plugs, taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 sho-ws a plan view in detail of the dial and switch assembly;

Figure 6 shows an elevation of the same assembly, with the operating knobs omitted;

Figure '7 is a section along the line 1 1 of Figure 6, illustrating the operating buttons and switches;

Figure 8 shows an enlarged section along the line 8 8 of Figure 5, illustrating the electric setup switches, mounted on the rear member or in- 5 sulated contact plate;

Figure 9 shows an enlarged detail section along the line 9-9 of Figure 8 of one such switch;

Figure 10 shows a plan view of the character window panels; and

Figure 11 shows a section along line H-Il 5 of Figure 10 of this panel.

Like characters will indicate like parts throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, A is a housing, preferably of sheet metal, covering the entire 10` apparatus. A1 is a metallic window panel holding the individual window strips shown as A2 in Figure 10. A3, A3 are studs, preferably of rubber or other soft' material, upon which the apparatus rests. A1, A4 are hook latch devices for holding the housing A to a base plate A5. Upon the base plate A5 is mounted certain internal framework consisting of vertical members A6, diagonal or sloping members AI and A8, and short vertical front supports A9. Projecting through the fro-nt wln- 20 dow panel A1 are a series of dial and switch operating knobs A1o and A11. Also mounted upon this panelis a signal lamp glass cap A12, a call button A13 and a reset button A14, which buttons are used by the operator for calling the central 25 station or other point to which the sub-station dispatcher is connected and for clearing or resetting certain electrical mechanism within the substation dispatcher and at other points.

Referring now to Figure 3, carried -upon the vertical supports A6 are two groups of relay banks B and B1. Mounted upon the base A5 is an impulse generating apparatus, not shown in detail, which automatically sends or transmits the message set up upon the apparatus as a series of groups of electrical impulses. C1 is an operating magnet associated with the impulse generator. Carried upon the sloping supports A8, A8 are two banks of manually operated electric switches D and D1. Apparatus of each such switch is ar- 40 ranged around a central shaft d shown in bank D, and correspondingly, d1 in bank D1. The series of knobs A10, A11 are attached to these series of switch shafts in their respective banks, and a series of dials, one of which is indicated as d2 in bank D and d3 in bank D1, are attached to their respective series of shafts.

Referring to Figure 4, F and F1 are multiple electric junction blocks, also found in Figure 3 in duplicate as at F? and F3, for the upper switch assembly D. These junction blocks are positioned to mate with their respective multiple plug elements F4, F5, F6, and F7, which are attached to the switch banks, the first two upon bank D and the second two upon `bank D1.

Referring now to Figures 5, 6 and '7, the construction of the switch bank D1 alone will be described. The bank D is an exact duplicate of D1. The mechanism of this dial and switch bank is carried upon two main plates E, E1. Plate E rests and is secured upon the sloping framework members A8 as shown in Figure 3. The plates E and E1 are spaced and rigidly held in position by the spacing studs e and locking nuts 'e1 threaded upon the reduced end portions e2. Passing through the plates e, spacers e3 are placed about the studs e. A series of signal lamp sockets e5 are carried upon the angle members er1 attached to the plate E1. These lamps receive current through the electrical supply cable e8. The electric cable e8 also carries current to the various switch points of the switches in the assembly in connection-with multiple plug terminals F, F1. Within the signal lamp sockets e5 are a series of illuminating lamps e1. The series of small shafts and dials of which d1 and d3 are examples, shown in Figure 3, is clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6. It will be noted that successive dials overlap, shown, for example, Where dial d4 overlaps the dial d3 making possible very compact and close arrangement of the character bearing dials. Upon these dials are inscribed any convenient number of charactersv d6, such as the digits from one to zero, or letters of the alphabet. These characters may be arbitrarily chosen and are arranged for .convenient showing in the appropriate windows, and are so positioned as to register with the cam positions and related switch points of the switches attached to the shafts common to each dial and switch sub-assembly. The entire series of knobs A11 is connected in like manner t0 a series of smallshafts upon which similar dials are mounted.

E3k is a leaf switch actuated by the button A11 comprising the leaves e12 and e13. E1 is a leaf switch actuated by the button A13 comprising the leaves e11 and e15. E5 is a signal lamp bracket containing the signal lamp e16 which is so positioned as to light the glass A12 in the window panel A1. These switches and the signal lamp receive electrical energy through the cable e8.

Referring now to Figures 8 and 9, which show details of the dial and switch assembly, the knob A10 attached to the shaft d1 will be recognized from previous description, as will the dial d3. d1 is a collar which serves to provide a rigid mounting of the dial d3 upon the shaft. A set screw d10 locks the dial in any desired position. The dial d3 bears one more character space than the total number of characters, as shown in Figure 6; for example, each dial except the last dial in each group bears ten characters and one blank space; likewise, each switch contains ten contact points and one blank space. However, the last switch in each group contains eleven contact points, the dial bears ten characters and one blank space. The eleventh contact point on the last switch in each group is a part `of the control circuit, which acts co-operatively to stop the impulse generator after the sending of the message. 111 is a multiple cam provided with a plurality of lobes equally spaced and corresponding-inn number to one more than the number of characters upon the dial d3. This cam is rigidly attached to a collar d12 which in turn may be set upon the shaft by a small set screw (i12. Acting upon this cam is a roller stop mechanism comprising a lever d11 journaled about a stud e carrying a roller Z16 upon a pin 11'1 which is held in engagement with the cam by means of the spring 118. It will be noted that the spring 118 is common to two such roller stops acting upon adjacent cams.` Clamped against a shoulder of the collar 112 by a clamp nut 119 are two sprng leaf wiper fingers d20 and C121. These spring leaf contacts are insulated from the shaft d and collar d12 by the insulating washers and sleeve (Z22 and 123. These spring leaves are in contact with each other and the shorter leaf i21 rides continuously upon a contact ring 124 which receives current from an electric connection e125. The leaf 12 rides upon a series of contact buttons $26.

Referring now to Figures 10 and 11, the window panel plate A1 will be recognized from previous description, as will the individual window and designation strips A2, A2. Lying immediately under the panel A1 are suitable transparent facings or windows a, a1 covering the entire open panel spaces. Behind these transparent facings are the paper or celluloid strips A2, A2 upon which appropriate designations may be inscribed. These strips are arranged in this manner to permit ready and quick changes in the designations adapting the machine to quick transfer from one class of service to another only with a minimum of change. These designation strips are provided with a plurality of windows a3. These windows a3 are so arranged as to register with similar positions of each character bearing dial and to expose but one character at a time. This assembly of transparent facing and designation strips is held to the main plate A1 by clamping plates a7 and a8, readily removable to permit changing of the strips A2, A2.

The particular novel and useful features of my apparatus and the functioning of parts are as follows:

The apparatus shown is of a type used as a substation dispatcher of an electrical intercommunication system including a central switchboard and a number of points from which messages are to be sent. For example, such apparatus is especially adapted for use in control of operations in a factory where a central switchboard is located in the superintendents oflice and the substation dspatchers are located near the various machines or at points where processes are carried out upon which reports must be made.

Such reports may obviously include practically every variety of message between an operator and a foreman or superintendent, provided the apparatus is sufiiciently adaptable and can deal with a sufficient number of characters. 'Ihis particular apparatus has been adapted to take careof either of two messages comprising any arrangement of ten characters in twelve positions, or of one message in two parts consisting of any arrangement of ten characters in twentyfour positions. In the design of the apparatus the particular requirement of simplicity has been kept in mind since such apparatus must be available for use by unskilled help, and in this particular construction further provision for accuracy, namely, that the message shall be visible in complete form before sending and shall thereafter be sent entirely automatically at high speed, has been provided. The apparatus to accomplish these complicated processes has been so arranged in this invention to occupy a relatively compact housing having a sloping face readily readable in which in a small space twenty-four windows are located, together with twenty-four knobs by means of which dials, each bearing ten or any other convenient number of characters, are turned until the proper character appears beneath the window immediately adjacentthe knob manipulated. For the-operator to send a message his procedure is to turn the knobs, say of the row markedA A11, until under each small window a3 shown in strip A2 of Figure l0, the character appears which in the position in which it stands will form a proper part of the message to be sent. To facilitate the message sending, an unlimited variety of codes may be used, and special provision is made in this apparatus for the selection and arrangement of such codes and for the designation of the meaning represented by characters appearing in certain windows, and also by the construction of the window, quick change is possible from one system to another. For example, in Figure certain sections of the windows may be grouped together and the characters appearing within these groups will then refer, for example, to a machine number in the first group, to a job number in the second group, to an operation number in the third group, and in the fourth group to the status of the operation. Of course, it is obvious that an unlimited variety of messages and compound messages may be sent by this apparatus. Previously, such intercommunicating systems have been extremely limited in the character or variety of messages which may be sent. The apparatus herein described has been especially developed to permit a practically unlimited variety of message transmission without decreasing materially either the size or space occupied by the general class of such transmitting equipment. The workman having set up a desired message, the characters having been checked as they appear in the windows, he then presses the button A13 which, through electrical circuits not here shown, signals a central station. The central station responds that it is ready to receive a message, this being indicated vby a flashing of the light A12. Thereupon the workman presses button A14 and the message which he has arranged upon either bank of knobs and dials will then be automatically transmitted through electrical circuits not here shown as they have no bearing upon the constructional features of the apparatus. During the automatic transmission of the message which is accomplished by the apparatus shown positioned B, B1 and C within the housing, the workman is apprised of the fact by the lighting of the lamps elo. This particular apparatus is so arranged that the automatic transmission ceases upon the completion of the message arranged upon one bank of dials. Electrical provision is made for such messages to be called for electrically by the central station. This apparatus with its actuating button and switch is not shown and forms no part of the construction herein described.

The construction of the apparatus throughout has been with a view to compactness, lightness, and strength of parts, together with accessibility and easy assembly and departs from common practice to attain these ends. The entire'frame is made of the lightest metal members possible, compatible with the relatively heavy loads to be supported and these in turn are tightly and easily sealed in alight metal housing cover. Since such apparatus is subject to severe handling and used and moved from time to time around a shop, and often by unskilled workmen, it must be extremely substantial in construction. Therefore the conventional wooden cabinet is entirely unsuited. Since such apparatus must be readily accessible to inspection, it is a highly important feature to have sub-assemblies readily removable, though, when mounted, held with the necessary rigidity not only to protect the mechanism from breakage, but also to insure protection against the slight disalignments which often cause mis-function in such relatively delicate parts. It will be noted that to accomplish this purpose the switches and knobs are arranged in two separate, very compact sub-assemblies provided with matching multiple plugs and sockets which permit these assemblies to be placed in and removed from sockets in the main framework, where they may be held with the greatest rigidity and where upon insertion al1 necessary electric contacts are made by multiple plugs and sockets, and yet where the sub-assemblies when out of the frame are accessible from all sides and where each part may be reached for inspection or repair. The arrangement of the shaft, knob, dial, positioning cam, and switch is such that any single unit may be readily disassembled for replacement of parts, and provision is made for accurate positioning of the dial and adjustment or setting in place of the locating cam and switch.

Special consideration has been given the construction of the designating strips containing the windows through which the characters appear. The holder for these strips is so arranged as to permit a change to be made by the loosening of a few screws. When this holder is loosened, the old designating strip with the windows cut therein is removed and a new strip inserted, which makes possible an immediate change from one code or message arrangement to another. Also, a change in mechanism, which is usually necessary in such intercommunicating apparatus when a different message system is to be used, is avoided by the construction described.

I claim:

l. In combination in a message sending apparatus, a plurality of manually adjustable switches, each comprising a rotary member, a handle for rotating it, and a character member, a housing for said switches, shaped to provide an opening dimensioned to expose all of said character members, and a removable indicating card, removably positioned within said opening, said indicator card provided with individual openings, one for each of the character members desired to be seen, and fprovided with designating indicia adjacent said openings.

2. In combination in a message sending apparatus, a plurality of manually controlled switches, each switch including a shaft, means for rotating it, and a positioning cam upon each said shaft, pivotally mounted positioning lei/ers, one for each cam, said levers arranged in pairs and on opposite sides of said switch shafts, the levers of each pair being pivoted at opposite ends with their respective free ends positioned to contact the cams on adjacent shafts, and a single spring member attached to adjacent levers intermediate the ends thereof to maintain the free ends of said levers in operative contact with the respective cams.

3. In combination in an electric set-up mechanism, a plurality of banks of multi-contact switches, each switch including a shaft carrying a character-bearing member, means for setting each switch individually, electric contacts for said switches, a multi-point cam disc secured to each of said switch shafts and means for positioning each of said cams accurately to secure proper positioning of a character and to secure accurate electrical contact, each of said cam positioning means including a pvotally mounted lever, said levers being arranged in pairs with the levers of each pair disposed on opposite sides of the switch shafts and pivoted at opposite ends, the free ends of said levers being positioned to contact respectively adjacent cams of adjacent switch shafts,

and spring means disposed between the shafts and attached to said levers intermediate the ends thereof to resiliently urge said levers into engagement With said cam.

CHAUNCEY L. CALKINS. 

